Question

1. Based on the photos, what do you think happens when copper reacts with silver nitrate?

Option 1: Copper undergoes no reaction with silver nitrate.
Option 2: Copper dissolves in silver nitrate.
Option 3: Copper displaces silver in silver nitrate, forming copper nitrate.
Option 4: Silver displaces copper in silver nitrate, forming copper silver alloy.

Answer 1

When copper reacts with silver nitrate, copper displaces silver in silver nitrate, forming copper nitrate. This reaction is an example of a redox reaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

When copper reacts with silver nitrate, copper displaces silver in silver nitrate, forming copper nitrate. The reaction can be represented by the equation: Cu(s) + 2AgNO3(aq) → Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 2Ag(s).

When a clean piece of copper metal is placed in a solution of silver nitrate, silver metal begins to form on the copper wire and copper ions pass into the solution. This is why we observe small silver crystals forming on the wire and the silver nitrate solution turning pale bluish.

This reaction is an example of a redox reaction, where oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously. Copper undergoes oxidation while silver undergoes reduction.